295 



IS domesticated, and to the discipline both moral 

 and physical, to which he is subjected to qualify 

 him for those purposes, the horse is capable of 

 performing them satisfactorily, with comfort and 

 safety both to his owner and to himself, he should 

 be considered sound. It is to be observed how- 

 ever, that in considering this point, regard must 

 be had to the manner in which he is to be em- 

 ployed; for nothing is more common than for 

 the purchaser to use his horse in novel duties, 

 such as a gig horse for the field, or a hunter 

 for the road ; and this sudden change of his 

 accustomed habits perhaps superinduces or elicits 

 infirmities, or even disease, to which the horse 

 might long have remained a stranger had he con- 

 tinued in his ordinary occupation. Yet, if such 

 disease or infirmity shows itself, dispute about his 

 soundness is sure to follow. 



I am much disposed to adopt Mr. Mavor's 

 definition, modifying it only in one particular. I 

 should say, that a horse is sound, if not labouring 

 under such disease or infirmity, or symptoms of 



but n'importe, the learned critic is not only <' strong," but omnipo- 

 tent " in his law ;" and I bow to his learning with respect. 



For his other criticisms I feel obliged to him ; some of them 

 have been of essential service to me, as the improvements in this 

 edition will show. 



